SOUTHINGTON, CT – A charity “Bike Night” event at a Southington, Connecticut, pub and eatery turned chaotic earlier in July after gunfire broke out amid a physical altercation involving several individuals, leading to two men being hospitalized and eight suspects being taken into custody.
A motorcycle-laden “Bike Night” event held on July 16th at Cadillac Ranch Restaurant, with event proceeds meant to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, reportedly turned violent approximately one hour into the charity event. Police reportedly responded to the venue at 7:00 p.m. after a physical altercation involving multiple parties erupted into gunfire.
Authorities say a 25-year-old victim had suffered a single gunshot wound to the torso and remained listed as being in critical condition as of the morning following the incident. A second victim, identified as a 44-year-old male, was also hospitalized after reportedly enduring a group assault.
While officials haven’t made it clear who was allegedly responsible for the gunfire during the incident, eight suspects were taken into custody following the arrival of authorities, four of which were allegedly involved in the physical altercation and four others arrested for allegedly interfering with responding officers.
The four suspects allegedly involved in a group assault injuring one of the victims were identified as 52-year-old James McDermott, 54-year-old Gerard McAfee, 55-year-old Philip Gugliotti, and 31-year-old Harley Woodbury.
The four suspects accused of interfering with officers were identified as 48-year-old Kevin Lawlor, 60-year-old William Schneiter, 49-year-old Marc Debenigno, and 46-year-old Zarif Ramadanov.
Authorities say the incident remains under investigation, with police actively working to ascertain what led up to the physical altercation and gunfire. A firearm was recovered at the scene of the incident, according to police. The four suspects who were charged with second-degree assault for the alleged group beating remain in custody with bond having been set at $150,000 for each defendant.
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